IN his keynote address accepting an honorary Doctorate of Law in Trinity College Dublin yesterday, President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic appealed for a Europe united on the basis of a common moral purpose.
"We are witnessing today an admirable undertaking aimed at uniting Europe on the principles of peaceful co-operation and justice, that is, of equality of the large and small alike," he said.
But what gave this work a true meaning? "In other words, has this admirable European construction its transcendental idea? I am not quite sure.
"Yes, we all know the essential values which unite so many different European countries and constitutes the foundation of their current integration. We could name them even in our sleep: democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, civil society, market economy.
"But why are we committed to these values, and why should we remain so? Is it only because we have agreed on them as on something that is to everyone's advantage?"
President Havel then spoke of the need for conscience and responsibility in European public affairs as an expression, of the transcendental in humanity.
"I find that as Europe goes ahead with its unification it has to rediscover, consciously embrace and in some way articulate its soul or its spirit, its underlying idea, its purpose and its inner ethos.
"It has to look itself in the face appreciate anew the strength of all its good traditions and realise the dangers of all the bad ones; it has to perform a true self-reflection and, finally, ascertain what its mission is.
"I truly believe Europe has a mission. In my opinion, it is called upon to become, through the pattern of its own being, the embodiment of the kind of responsibility for the world that is essential to its salvation.
"I am not implying that Europe alone will save the world. I am simply saying that we should start with ourselves. This does not require that we devise any new ideologies. All it takes is to rededicate ourselves to the authentic meaning and content of the spiritual wealth that Europe has created in the course of its history.
"Let me, at this particular time, make one appeal: that Europeans should give deeper thought to the historical significance of their magnificent unification effort that they should look for the true and innermost reason behind it and for its broader mission that they should reflect upon their relationship to the world as a whole, to its future, to nature and to the grave dangers looming over humankind today.
"In keeping with the spirit of its own universalism, Europe should realise that the European question is a human and global question as well."
Earlier he had referred to the role which small nations like Ireland and the Czech Republic could play in Europe. European integration represented a challenge for Europe to arrange its affairs so that large and small nations were equal, he said.
He told the President, Mrs Robinson, he supported Ireland's priorities during its forthcoming presidency of the EU, when the focus will be on unemployment and drugs, and the crime to which they give rise. He also expressed his profound regret at the murder of Veronica Guerin, describing it as an attack, not only on press freedom, but on all freedom.
He will meet members of the Opposition parties this morning. Shortly before I p.m. he will lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance, before crossing the road to the Writers' Museum for lunch with Irish writers.
He will narrowly miss clashing with the opening parade of National Gay and Lesbian Pride Week, which starts at 1 p.m. A spokesman for the parade said President Havel, a supporter of gay rights, had been invited.
After lunch there is a civic reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Sean D. Loftus, followed by visits to St Patrick's Cathedral and Joyce's Tower, and then the President will host a reception in Johnny Fox's pub.
Tomorrow he will visit Newgrange, which featured in his speech in Trinity College yesterday, before leaving for London, and Wembley Stadium for the European Soccer Cup final between the Czech Republic and Germany.